JFK won the 1960 presidential election over the Republican nominee Richard M. Nixon. This was the first debate that was televised, and they differed in many ways. JFK, the Democratic nominee, was Catholic from a wealthy and influential Massachusetts family. Richard M. Nixon , the Republican nominee, and Eisenhower's vice-president, was a Quaker from California; he had grown up in a family that struggled financially. Kennedy seemed outgoing and relaxed, while nixon struck many as formal and even stiff in manner. The campaign centered on the economy and the Cold War, and although they had different styles, they differed little on these issues. They both promised to boost the economy, and were determined to stop the forces of "communism." Kennedy's Catholic faith became an issue, the U.S. had never had a Catholic president, and many Protestants had concerns about him, Kennedy decided to confront this in open speech. Kennedy won the popular vote by 119,000 out of 68 million votes cast, and the Electoral College by 303 votes to 219. Many people say that Kennedy won not for what his beliefs were or for what he promised, but of his youth and optimism on television. He portrayed a better image than Nixon did. Upon entering office Kennedy set out to implement an agenda that became known as the New Frontier. He hoped to increase education, provide health insurance to the elderly, and create a Department of Urban Affairs, he soon found that the task was not an easy one. Kennedy did improve the economy, although it had soared in the 1950's. He asked business men to hold down prices and labor leaders to hold down pay increases. Kennedy also helped expand women's rights, he created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. The commission called for federal action against gender discrimination and affirmed the right of women to equally paid employment, he also helped with the view of the disabled, with the Panel of Mental Retardation. JFK fought the Cold War with doing his best to contain communism, he offered a "flexible response" for nations that needed help resisting communism. He gave aid to other countries, focusing hard on diplomatic focus with latin America. Then the race in space began, and he did not want the U.S. behind the Russians, this became known as the space race. Even though he worked hard, it came to an end on November 22, 1963, only 3 years after he was elected he was assassinated in Dallas by a sniper while driving through the streets with his wife.